500X Gallery is proud to present This Vessel Holds No Water, a solo exhibition by Narong Tintamusik. The exhibition will run from March 19 - April 10, 2022 with the opening reception Saturday, March 19th from 7-10pm. The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays 12-5 with no appointments required.

This Vessel Holds No Water investigates the effect of trauma on function despite form. In biology, function is a result of form (e.g. hands grabbing onto objects, legs and feet for walking and running). As a sexual abuse survivor at a young age, Tintamusik became afflicted with having unhealthy perceptions of sex and intimacy. Tintamusik has to unlearn the toxic traits inherited from the past in order to move forward into the future.

Alluding to poisonous defense mechanisms, sculptural forms are often covered with sharp spines. Despite removing most of the barbs that penetrated the mind and body, toxins still linger. The self becomes affected by mental paralysis surrounding ideas of intimacy due to childhood traumas. The shapes appear to be like broken sea creatures washed up on the shore unwillingly. Damaged echinoderms continue to present their spines as protection despite the need for help.

If life is contingent on us being full-bodied, how could we live if brokenness exists? Missing pieces may take a life-time to find in this vast ocean. The works help piece back the vessel that was previously too broken to uphold life, forming a new whole.